Exploring Xinjiang is always considered one of the hot tourist destinations in China, perhaps because it is the western gateway to this populous country on the trade route to Central Asia. Not only renowned as one of the five autonomous regions in China, Xinjiang also embodies unique cultural aspects and top-tier sightseeing spots in Asia. Xinjiang means "new frontier," officially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is an autonomous region of China covering an area of up to 1.6 million km². Xinjiang is divided into North Xinjiang and South Xinjiang. The capital is Urumqi. The Uyghur ethnic group mainly resides in South Xinjiang, exhibiting a strong ethnic identity. North Xinjiang is mainly pastoral and also boasts many beautiful landscapes.